Barely two weeks after the UK and US governments alongside a few other countries raised the alarm over possible terror attacks in Abuja, the British Government has once again through its Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), advised its citizens against travelling to 22 states in Nigeria.
This disclosure is contained in a press release issued on Monday by the British High Commission, Abuja, with the title, ‘Updated Foreign Commonwealth Development Office Travel Advice to British Nationals Travelling to FCT.’
Although the UK government excluded Abuja from the list of cities its citizens should avoid, it stated that the purpose of the travel update is to help its nationals make better-informed decisions about international travel and plan for a trouble-free trip.
States to avoid: The UK listed the states to avoid which include Kano, Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto, Kogi, Abia, Plateau, and Taraba, within 20km of the border with Niger in Kebbi State and non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States.
Others are Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe State, Kaduna State, Katsina State, Zamfara state, and the riverine areas of Delta State, Bayelsa State, Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State.
The statement reads, “FCDO travel advice exists to inform British nationals so they can make decisions about travelling abroad.
There continue to be several states in Nigeria where we advise British Nationals against all but essential travel. These include Bauchi, Kano, Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto, Kogi, Abia, Plateau, and Taraba, within 20km of the border with Niger in Kebbi State and non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States.
“We also advise against all travel to Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe State, Kaduna State, Katsina State, Zamfara state, and the riverine areas of Delta State, Bayelsa State, Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State.
“The UK keeps its travel advice under regular review and in making these assessments and uses information from a wide range of sources.
The travel advice is constantly reviewed to make sure it reflects the current situation in Abuja and Nigeria.
Although the FCDO Travel Advice no longer advises against all but essential travel to the Federal Capital Territory, including the city of Abuja, it makes clear that some risks remain.”